Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Melrose, MN

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Melrose, MN has a lot to offer. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Melrose is surrounded by family-friendly activities. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Melrose camping trip.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Melrose, Minnesota (73)

    1. Sinclair Lewis City Campground

    14 Reviews
    Melrose, MN
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 352-2203

    "My extended family has gatherings here a couple times a year as it is close to everybody and a great location! "

    "There is a boat launch right next to the campground. A fish cleaning house is provided at the campground. Bathrooms are also located within the campground."

    2. Birch Lake

    10 Reviews
    Melrose, MN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 616-2525

    $12 / night

    "We really enjoyed staying in the walk-in camp site. It gave us a lot of privacy for our dogs. The only complaint is it does tend to be a bit wet."

    "Birch Lake is Lake Wobegon personified. Fish, swim, canoe, jet ski, you name it. The campsite is located in the Burch State Forest with tons of trees around each site."

    3. Sauk River City Park

    8 Reviews
    Melrose, MN
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 256-4278

    $30 / night

    "Walking distance to stores water and electricity"

    "There was so many goodies and we walked around park. It is right on river nice playground basketball courts walking trails everything you would need. Very nice and well kept!!! :)"

    4. Cedar Lake Memorial Park

    3 Reviews
    Holdingford, MN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 573-2983

    "Had a nice park area with playground, clear lake swimming area. We had a dog with so limited areas that pets can go. It was very enjoyable. Would recommend"

    "Shallow lake for swimming not a lot of sites"

    5. Saukinac Campground

    2 Reviews
    Osakis, MN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 352-0037

    6. Oak Ridge Campground — Sibley State Park

    20 Reviews
    New London, MN
    27 miles
    Website

    "Away from the lake is another campground in the oak savanna section of the park, and this campground seems quieter with more spacious sites, although they are more open."

    "Sibley State Park isn't the most amazing park in Minnesota, however it's still a very nice little campground!"

    7. Games Lake County Park

    15 Reviews
    New London, MN
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 354-4453

    "Really happy to be able to see some pictures of this lovely place, enjoying with family and pet is one of the most entertaining experience in life."

    "Games Lake County Park, near New London, Minnesota, is a great spot for camping. With tent, RV, and cabin options, it suits all campers."

    8. El Rancho Manana

    3 Reviews
    Richmond, MN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 597-2740

    "You can spend extra money to go horseback riding on trails. The sites are very close together not much privacy."

    9. Lake Carlos State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Carlos, MN
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 852-7200

    "Lots of screaming kids the weekend we were here, but we found the quiet trails. Lower campground offers no privacy, but a newer shower house and views and access to the lake."

    "The lower campground has electric sites and is situated along Lake Carlos but there is little privacy between sites (126 and 127)."

    10. Camp S'more Campground

    5 Reviews
    Osakis, MN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 732-2517

    $15 - $40 / night

    "This is a quiet and fairly small but impeccably maintained campground located near the town of Long Prairie. It would be a nice family friendly destination for an easy lical get away."

    "And it’s less than 1/8 mile from the Long Drive in. A great family experience and one of the few left in the state. We went to the Scott co fair during the day and the drive in that night."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Melrose, MN

327 Reviews of 73 Melrose Campgrounds


  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 22, 2022

    Crow Wing Lake Campground

    Lake spots

    Fun for the whole family. Amenities include: playground, pool, lake, dog park, and store. Each site has a table and fire pit. Keep an eye on your account. We noticed goggles charged to ours even though none of the 3 of us bought any. Somebody must've given them the wrong site number to charge to. Overall great campground, but a little spendy.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2022

    Outdoors Inn Campground

    Great location next to Chippewa

    Recommended!

    We had a full hookups with 50 amp service. Our site was next to US-12 and had no noise issues. The Chippewa river flows next to the camp and the adjoining river bank is woodlands. We had no insect issues. There is a super dog park and grocery just east on US-12. Found great coffee and scones in Benson at Go Set Ready Coffee.

    Our site had a great camp fire pit made from a half sphere about 40 inches in diameter. Looked like the bottom of a buoy or end of a 250 lbs propane tank. The proprietor is an arborist and sold us a large bundle of hard wood that made great smores.

    We picked Benson because of its close location to Glacial Lake state park and the Glacial Ridge Trail. Just take MN-29 north.  The topology change in terrain from the farm lands around Benson to the rolling hills and lakes north on MN-29 is great. Continue on MN-29 to Starbuck for a sizable lake. Take some time and explore the back roads on and around the Glacial Ridge Trail. There are many hills, forests and lakes you can explore east up to New London. 

    We had an encounter with a pair of swans on the side of the road next to a lake. These are large beautiful birds! We stopped in the car, kept our distance, watched from inside of the car and enjoyed them before the slipped back into the lake.

  • JoAnn E.
    Jul. 26, 2023

    Cedar Lake Memorial Park

    Nice relaxing

    We stayed at the campground during the week, it was so relaxing and not a lot of campers out felt like we had the park to ourselves. Had a nice park area with playground, clear lake swimming area. We had a dog with so limited areas that pets can go. It was very enjoyable. Would recommend

  • Tiffany O.
    May. 31, 2021

    Swift Falls Co Park

    Great Campground

    We love camping here, reservations are easy, pet friendly, quiet area to relax!

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 13, 2025

    RiversEdge RV Park

    Great location! Quiet!

    This was such a great spot! The campground is so nice and quiet!

    Located 50 Miles NW of Minneapolis, and only 15 Miles from St. Cloud, MN.

    • Large wooded lots, most facing the river or wildlife pond
    • Full hook-ups, with 30 or 50 amp service -Concrete Patios on every lot -Crushed granite streets and drives Fishing, tubing, & canoeing on the Elk River -Horseshoe and lawn games -Large pavilion provides for fun weekly events and activities -Laundry and shower facilities -Lush lawns and nice walking paths with colorful gardens -Pets Welcome -Electric golf carts welcome -Firewood available -Gracious owners live on-site
  • Joe S.
    Oct. 29, 2021

    A J Acres Campground

    Good Enough for our Needs

    We stayed here for a weekend in May. The campsites are a little bit on top of each other. There aren't many campsites that you're able to reserve. The majority of the campsites are seasonal campsites. There are a lot of mature trees that help with the shade! The beach area is nice, but the only problem is that boaters and kayaks are in the same general area so you have to be careful so you don't get hit. There is a dock for fishing as well. You can also rent boats, kayaks and paddleboards for a small fee. If you want to walk the whole campground having a golf cart would be nice. Also there is NO petting zoo as stated on the website or on the campground maps. There hasn't been one for a few years but they have yet to edit the website or the campground maps. We went there partly because there was a petting zoo for the little kids. Seems lazy to me that they can't update the website or the campground maps.

  • Gregory J.
    Jul. 31, 2021

    Pierz Park

    Too many kids driving golf carts.

    First the negatives. No internet, medium phone signal. The campsites are too small and too crowded. The adults let their young kids drive their cold carts and atvs back and forth from the campground to the beach all day long. I counted one particular one make 34 trips in less than 6 hours. I used to golf and I occasionally used a cart but usually I walked. Kids and young parents are way too lazy now, because it's a small campground and short walk to the beach from the farthest site. I think they do it for 2 reasons, they are bored, and they can. There is only one road in and out so there is constant traffic, and the road is gravel so prepare to eat dust. The sites aren't paved or even gravel, you park on the grass. Now for the positives. Some sites have 50 amp, most just 30 amp or less. Water hookups at most. No full hookups or dump site. There is a beach and swim area on Skunk Creek. A playground by the bathroom and showers. That building is clean, showers are free. Lots of shade from all the trees. Mosquitoes are few, flies plentiful. It is a quiet park after 10pm, but although they say closed after 8pm there was traffic all night long. Ask for a site in the back to avoid headlights shining on you all night long. Rates are $40/night for the pull through site we had w50 amp service. It has a few seasonal sites, all located at the rear. There is a golf course right next door across the creek. That is where the office is located. The town is small, only a gas station and small grocery store, so bring what you need. A Subway and nice drive-in are close by. Oh, the water is in me/my dogs opinion not for drinking. I wouldn't suggest weekends here unless you're into hearing every conversation your neighbors have or want to sleep in. Maybe the week days are better? They do allow leashed pets.

  • J
    Oct. 14, 2024

    Games Lake County Park

    Great Land, best place to relax and play my fav video game

    Really happy to be able to see some pictures of this lovely place, enjoying with family and pet is one of the most entertaining experience in life. Also have had a good time playing with the D2R items of my favourite video game. Will come back in this zone in the future.

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 9, 2019

    Oak Ridge Campground — Sibley State Park

    Forest meets prairie

    This state park uniquely showcases an ecologic transition zone between hardwood forest, savannah, and prairie. There are also local history connections. As a bird watcher, I was very excited to see birds here that I dont usually see at home in northern Minnesota, and to learn a bit more about glaciation in this area and about prairie and savannah habitats. The park has self guided hikes, educational nature programs, and learning kits for birding and more that you can check out at the ranger station. The lakeshore is pretty, and the lakeside campground is green and leafy with mature trees but the campsites are very close together, and the beachfront and bath house are currently closed for renovation which puts a damper on waterfront activities. Away from the lake is another campground in the oak savanna section of the park, and this campground seems quieter with more spacious sites, although they are more open. The park’s camper cabins are located here and are in a very pretty setting tucked into a little hill, though a bit of a walk to the bathrooms and showerhouse. At both campgrounds there are nice ADA sites which are level, spacious and accessible, and also close to the bathrooms. I was at a conference in nearby Willmar, and this park is a good alternative for lodging if you need to be in the area. If you are really into learning more about prairies and local glacial geology, the nearby Prairie Environmental Learning Center is fantastic to visit, and lots of prairie pothole WMAs are also closeby for waterfowl watching


Guide to Melrose

Discover the joy of camping with your furry friends near Melrose, Minnesota, where several pet-friendly options await you and your pets.

Pet owners like the amenities offered at local campgrounds

  • The Sinclair Lewis City Campground provides electric hookups and drinking water, making it a convenient choice for pet owners.
  • At Birch Lake, you can enjoy a peaceful atmosphere with fire pits and nearby water access, perfect for a relaxing stay with your pet.
  • Sauk River City Park features clean facilities and ample space for pets to roam, ensuring a comfortable camping experience.

Pet-friendly campgrounds include great activities

  • The Lake Koronis Regional Park offers a playground and nearby larger parks, making it ideal for families with pets to enjoy outdoor activities together.
  • At Camp S'more, pets are welcome, and the friendly owners are eager to help you find local attractions to explore with your furry companions.
  • Cedar Lake Memorial Park features a swimming area and playground, providing fun for both pets and their owners.

Tips for camping with dogs near Melrose

  • Always keep your pet on a leash at the El Rancho Manana Campgrounds & Riding Stable to ensure their safety and the comfort of other campers.
  • Bring plenty of water and snacks for your pet while enjoying the scenic views at Canary Beach Resort, where you can also find pet-friendly accommodations.
  • Make sure to clean up after your pet at Saukinac Campground to maintain the beauty of the campground and ensure a pleasant experience for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Melrose, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Melrose, MN is Sinclair Lewis City Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 14 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Melrose, MN?

TheDyrt.com has all 73 dog-friendly camping locations near Melrose, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.